Personally, I track appliance ages and set aside for replacements on a schedule. Not glamorous, but it’s saved me from a few headaches... and lets me enjoy trips without worrying about what’s breaking back home.
Interesting approach. But does tracking appliance ages really cover the unpredictable stuff? I mean, I’ve seen foundation issues or drainage failures pop up out of nowhere—stuff you can’t exactly schedule for. If you’re in an area with shifting soil or heavy rain cycles, wouldn’t it make sense to keep a chunk extra in the emergency fund, even if your appliances are new? Just curious how much risk folks are comfortable with when it comes to the “unplannable” repairs.
CHOOSING BETWEEN SAVING FOR EMERGENCIES OR THAT DREAM VACATION
Totally agree that tracking appliances helps, but I don’t think it covers all the bases. Here’s how I try to balance it:
- Set aside for “scheduled” stuff (appliances, roof, etc.), but also keep a separate chunk for those wild-card repairs—like when my basement flooded out of nowhere last spring.
- If you’re in a spot with shifting soil or heavy rain, I’d bump up that emergency fund a bit.
- I don’t like risking my vacation fund on the hope nothing breaks... Murphy’s Law loves to mess with me right after I book non-refundable flights.
Just my two cents—predictable and unpredictable both need cash on standby.
